Known Icing

If you don’t have the panel space for the Garmin system or just want the safety benefit of a HTAWS, check out the Sandel HeliTAWS model ST3400H.

This TSO’d instrument fits into a standard instrument mount on a panel requiring less downtime, less retrofit and therefore less expense while still packing big features:

• Based on the industry standard ST3400 Part 25 Class-A TAWS
• Designed specifically for helicopters
• Exceeds TSO C194 (HTAWS) standards
• Displays ultra-high resolution Terrain, clearly identifiable Obstacles and GPSFlight Plan
• TSO’d Traffic indicator when interfaced to an existing TAS or TCAS
• Radar Altimeter indicator replacement capable
• Integral Minimums (MINS) knob with aural and discrete outputs
• Best display performance – uses Sandel’s beautiful high brightness 3ATI display engine
• 10,000+ Hour MTBF
• Ultra-high resolution 3 arc-second (300’) terrain grid
• One foot vertical obstacle resolution
• High-resolution obstacle database
• On-screen obstacle depiction
• Sandel’s proven high-performance nuisance alert reduction tailored for helicopter operations

For more information, go to Sandel HeliTaws.

I just saw the new Garmin helicopter G500H display which combines an MFD (Multi-Function Display) and a PFD (Primary Flight Display) like most modern airplane cockpits, and folks, I was blown away.

Although we have become accustomed to such display information in airplanes, the helicopter market has somewhat been ignored due to the dynamics of helicopter flight. Specifically, the pilot spends the majority of his gaze OUTSIDE the cockpit to garner situational awareness.

This G500H system takes into account how helicopter pilots fly and how they interact with avionics and warning systems. By using color and cue-rich LCD displays with aural alerts, they have managed to provide helicopter pilots with situational awareness now common in modern aircraft. The interface uses soft keys for mode selection and a rotary knob for data entry, again taking into account the unique difficulty of interacting with avionics while flying.

But what really blew me away was the thoughtful H-TAWS (Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System). Because a helicopter often flies very close to terrain, previous TAWS systems have had a tendency to issue numerous nuisance alarms. Garmin solved this problem by allowing an RP (Reduced Protection) mode. Additionaly, the warning displays are eye-catching and logically displayed and since the warning is coupled with an aural alert, the pilot does not need to divert his gaze from the outside.

TCAS alerts are also combined with aural callouts in the familiar and intuitive “o’clock” format (“Traffic, 12 o’clock high”).

I have not flown with this system so my review is based on the well-produced video at Garmin’s site. I highly recommend every helicopter pilot watch this video as this system may save you and your passenger’s lives.

I have a prediction: if this system becomes ubiquitous in helicopter cockpits, we will see a significant drop in mid-air collisions and CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain).

I congratulate Garmin on possibly one of the most significant contributions to helicopter safety I have seen.

See the systems overview here: Garmin Helicopter Solutions

To see the video, click on the bar titled “See the G500H in action” on the above page.